Sign on to the patient portal and find a provider time slot that works with your schedule. If you want to see a specific clinician, you can schedule with them based on availability. Once you have chosen an initial consult date and time, please fill out the attached questionnaire. This gives the clinician more information about your needs so they can prepare for your visit.

Please be on time for your appointment. These appointments are brief, so you want to utilize the time you have. If you are late you will need to reschedule.

Based on your needs, you may be referred to short term individual treatment within CAMHS, ongoing treatment with a community provider, a support or skills-based group, virtual groups and skills modules through iHOPE, among other resources.

An initial consult is a 30 minute visit with a clinician to help figure out your needs. The clinician will offer useful coping skills and will make recommendations for additional services both within or outside of CAMHS.

In-person urgent care is available every day from 8am to 10pm. Between the hours of 10pm to 8am, please call our nurse advice line at (617)-495-5711. The RN will determine the severity of the issue, and then facilitate appropriate care, whether that is at an emergency room, providing home care advice, or facilitating a next-day, in-person visit with HUHS. Community members, including residential life staff and friends can also use the service to speak with a qualified medical professional who can offer advice and help facilitate access to HUHS between 8 am and 10 pm.

We also reserve appointments for students each weekday to accommodate urgent concerns that arise during regular business hours–please call ahead at (617) 495-2042, or (617)-495-5711 after hours.

We realize some of our students would benefit from more frequent and longer term therapy with a provider they can continue to see throughout their time at Harvard. We have strong relationships with our community providers and see them as a continuation of our care. Our Community Referral Coordinators help assist in finding a provider that fits your needs.

Our experience shows that the majority of students benefit from short term therapy. The average number of therapy sessions is between 6-8 sessions, but many students prefer less. If a new situation arises, a student can return to CAMHS for further assessment. If it is less than 12 months you can call the front desk to make an appointment with your previous therapist.

Get the Facts

Not necessarily. Many people are seen for issues other than “psychiatric disorders.” For example, therapy related to coping with normal life stressors such as breakups, relationship issues, academic stress, or loss of a loved one would not typically be viewed as therapy for a “psychiatric disorder.”

Your mental health records are covered by special confidentiality laws including Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Your mental health records are not a part of your academic record. Our clinicians have access to your record, but only as necessary. We cannot share information about your mental health to anyone outside of CAMHS, including your family members, parents, friends, academic advisors, deans, or employers without your permission.

There are exceptions to confidentiality-- involving imminent safety concerns. We will always try to speak with you first and get your permission to share any information.

The frequency of sessions is determined by your particular situation. Periodic weekly counseling may be scheduled depending on your treatment needs and goals; typically students are seen on a bi-weekly or even monthly basis until treatment goals have been met. Additional services like group counseling will enhance and compliment your care at CAMHS. We also encourage all students to follow up with the “therapy homework” generated in your counseling sessions. Therapy homework may include, keeping a journal, daily practice of relaxation skills, or tracking your self-care routines.

We do not provide counseling over the phone or via Skype. We encourage you to contact your counselor to set up an appointment if you are having difficulty between scheduled sessions. Urgent care for emergencies is available 24 hours a day by calling (617) 495-5711.

Our clinicians can help you manage with a variety of concerns including: stress, anxiety, depression, mood swings, cultural adjustment, difficulties with focus and concentration, eating concerns, traumatic experience, loneliness and isolation, grief, sexuality, relationship problems, managing a chronic health condition, addictive behaviors, academic and career planning concerns. Call us even if you are not sure if we can help – we will connect you with the right support.

Many people seek counseling for personal growth and/or because they need help managing the challenges in life. Some students worry that seeking help means they are "crazy," “weak,” or “incompetent.” Seeking help from a licensed professional is a way to work through a difficult time. Counseling is available because we know that many students go through difficult times while they are here.

The number and frequency of sessions depends on your particular situation, in the context of our short-term model of care. Some students feel benefits after one to six sessions, others need more time.

Recognizing that some students may need longer term treatment for chronic mental health concerns, our clinicians will work with you to develop a treatment plan that identifies interventions, goals, and timeframes that address your presenting concern. Recommendations may include individual counseling, group therapy or a workshop, psychopharmacology, or referral to a community-based clinician.

Typically, the agency that is requesting the security clearance contacts the mental health and counseling service after notifying you (we need your permission to release information, and usually the agency has already asked you to sign a release). All security clearance questions are reviewed by the Chief of Counseling and Mental Health Services.

- If it is an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. If you need to be seen urgently the same day, you can either call CAMHS (617-495-2042) and request a same-day appointment or go to the Smith Centre (75 Mount Auburn Street 4th Floor) and make that request in person. - After business hours you can call Urgent Care (617-495-5711) and request to speak to the on-call mental health provider. This option is available to you 24/7.

Have you noticed a change in your mood, feelings of worry and anxiety, self esteem, sleeping, eating, use of alcohol and other substances, thoughts of wanting to hurt yourself in any way, thoughts of wanting to hurt others, or any medical concerns?

Can you describe any previous counseling experiences?

What support system do you have here at Harvard?

Can you describe your current coping and self-care routine?

The answers to these questions gives the clinician a clear understanding of what your concerns are in order to make the best recommendations for you.

Recommendations may include:

An immediate appointment because of the urgency of your concerns

An intake appointment with one of our therapists, psychiatrists, or nurse practitioners

Recommending one of our groups or workshops

Referring you to the Bureau of Study Counsel (BSC)

Facilitating access to services from a clinician in the local community

Intake appointments with CAMHS clinicians are made as soon as possible based on your presenting concerns, your scheduling availability, and the availability of the clinician that is recommended for you.

All of our clinicians are trained and experienced at addressing student mental health concerns.

Mental health hospitalizations occur only after careful assessment by your clinician. We are committed to helping you stay engaged in their academic programs, but sometimes mental health concerns warrant a higher level of care than can be provided at CAMHS. Most hospitalizations are voluntary, meaning that the student agreed that he/she would benefit from intensive treatment.

Confidentiality is maintained throughout the hospitalization process, including intake, treatment, and discharge. The reason for hospitalization cannot be disclosed without your consent. Students who reside in University accommodations should expect that their Dean will be informed that they have been transported to a hospital, but further details are only released with the your permission.

Please call (617) 495-2042 to cancel your appointment. You will incur a $25 fee if you do not show up or cancel your appointment within 24 hours. Canceling your appointment in a timely manner also allows us to offer an appointment to another student who needs services.

Your clinician will contact you via secure email or phone if you cancel an appointment or do not show up for the appointment. This is one of the ways we can follow up with you to check on your well-being and ask if you are interested in continued care.

In your first triage appointment, you can specify if you have preferences regarding your provider’s area of expertise and or characteristics of the providers themselves. We will do our best to meet your requests based on availability and your clinical needs.

The purpose of the 15-30-minute in-person or telephone initial consult is for you to have the time to detail your needs and together with the mental health provider assess which treatment options best meet them. This is different from an initial therapy session.

Psychiatrists, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Psychiatry Residents prescribe medication at CAMHS. Social Workers, Psychologists, Licensed Mental Health Counsellors and Social Work and Psychology Interns focus mainly on talk therapy and do not prescribe medication.

More about Let's Talk

Clinicians at CAMHS provide ongoing counseling, which usually consists of weekly or bi-weekly 45-50 minute appointments. Let's Talk is not formal counseling - it is a drop-in service where students can have an informal conversation with a clinician from time to time.

Let’s Talk services are intended to be used by current Harvard students. However, if you come to a Let’s Talk location on your own, the clinician will work to assist you with referrals should you need ongoing support.

Absolutely. The clinician will talk you through your issue and help you determine the best way to get help. If you feel comfortable with the clinician, it may be possible to meet with him or her at CAMHS more regularly.

If your next appointment is not soon enough, it's best to contact your clinician directly to see if he or she can see you sooner. If they cannot see you sooner, you can utilize CAMHS Urgent Care Monday through Friday 9am-5pm.

The best thing to do in this situation is to talk directly with your clinician. Clinicians are eager to get your feedback, positive or negative. Oftentimes an open conversation about your concern helps smooth out any wrinkles. If, after talking with your clinician, you prefer to transfer to someone else, just ask your clinician directly, either in person or by e-mail.

Conversations with Let's Talk counselors are confidential, with very rare exceptions. Clinicians may need to share information in an emergency when there is an immediate threat of harm to self or others. Clinicians are required by law to report when a minor, elderly person, or someone otherwise incapacitated and unable to act on his/her own behalf is being abused. Let's Talk clinicians keep brief written notes of their contacts with students and, in the event that there is an emergency or a student is referred to CAMHS, other CAMHS staff may see these notes. Let's Talk visits are never noted... Read more about Let's Talk visits are confidential. Are there any limits to confidentiality?

Although Let's Talk clinicians are professionals, Let's Talk is not a substitute for psychotherapy or formal counseling and does not constitute mental health treatment. Let's Talk clinicians provide informal consultations to help students with specific problems and to introduce them to what it's like to speak with a clinician. Your Let's Talk clinician can help you determine whether formal counseling at CAMHS would be useful for you and, if appropriate, assist you in scheduling an appointment.

Appointments are first-come, first-serve. Students are encouraged to talk about whatever is important to them. The clinician will listen closely to your concerns and provide support, perspective, and suggestions for resources.

Let's Talk is a program that provides easy access to informal, confidential conversations with clinicians from CAMHS. Clinicians hold walk-in hours at designated sites around campus. There is no appointment necessary and no fee for the service.